Four international fellows are working with Youth Advocate Programs™, Inc. (YAP®) this fall to gain real world experience in ways the national nonprofit sets youth and families facing society’s most complex challenges up for success.

The fellows working with YAP® Cook County, Ill. are Abdul Rahman Bangura from Sierra Leone and Thomas Tamba Bundoo from Liberia. YAP® Harris County, Texas fellows include Ganda Bassie from Sierra Leone and Lillian Selmartin from Papua New Guinea. The 2025 fellows will work with the local YAP® youth justice programs for three months.

YAP® is a national nonprofit in 32 states and Washington, D.C., providing services that reduce the nation’s overreliance on youth incarceration, residential care, group homes and other out-of-home placements. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, YAP® partners with public systems to provide community-based wraparound and behavioral health services as an alternative to residential care and incarceration. Principles of the nonprofit’s evidence-based model are also helping cities reduce violence. YAP has an international footprint with affiliates in Australia, Ireland, Sierra Leone and Guatemala.

“By the fellows being able to see YAP in action and the positive impact the organization has on communities and individuals for half a century, we hope to both inspire and fortify the fellows to return to their home countries with fresh perspectives, skills, and knowledge,” said Diana Matteson YAP® Vice President for International Development. “I am confident that Bassie, Lillian, Thomas, and Abdul will have that experience and I am so excited for what they will teach us as part of the reciprocal learning that hosting global fellows creates.”

This is the fifth cohort of fellows that YAP® is hosting; the second cohort from the Community Solutions Program (CSP) fellows and the third cohort of Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) fellows. Previously, YAP® had hosted 13 fellows as a sponsor organization and has partnered with IREX, to host both CSP and CEE fellows from 11 countries at YAP® at sites in Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, and California.

The Community Solutions Program (CSP) strengthens American communities by placing skilled international professionals with U.S. organizations for four months to tackle local challenges in key areas like energy, security, and human rights. The Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program is a transformational leadership development experience that equips emerging civil society leaders, ages 21-27, to harness the power of networks and technology to develop multi-sector approaches and build thriving communities in the U.S. and their home countries. CSP and the CEE Program are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX. 

“YAP is fully committed to ensuring a supportive and engaging practicum experience,” said Patrick Young, YAP® Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development who was in Houston to welcome fellows at the beginning of their tenure. “We will make sure fellows feel welcomed, supported and set up for success from day one.”

At the end of their tenure, fellows will also complete a capstone project to present the collective impact the program has had on each of them as well as YAP®.

Below is more information about each fellow:

Ganda Bassie

Bassie focuses on improving educational access for vulnerable children in Bo, Sierra Leone. In 2015, Bassie founded the Child Welfare and Development Project (CWADeP) to address the significant barriers to education faced by local children, including financial constraints related to school fees, books, and basic necessities. Under his leadership, CWADeP has successfully supported 40 children annually with comprehensive educational resources and reached over 100 more through outreach initiatives.

Lillian Selmartin

Selmartin is a community development officer who helps oversee child protection and welfare services, sports for development, women empowerment, youth non-governmental organizations, churches, community governance and more. She has been instrumental in completing outreach programs in rural communities.

Thomas Tamba Bundoo

Bundoo is a youth mentor, developer and activist. He is the founder and executive director of Hope for Young People Inc., in Monrovia, Liberia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping youth unlock opportunities and resources in education, healthcare, civil liberties, and advocacy. His passion is to help communities thrive so that all individuals, especially youth, can have access to opportunities that empower them and contribute to societal progress.

 Abdul Rahman Bangura

Rahman is a lawyer and community leader who has worked in legal practice, youth empowerment and grassroots development. He specializes in educational access, drug abuse prevention and mentorship initiatives for youths. Additionally, he has managed projects that tackle critical issues in his community and beyond.

“YAP’s history of working in partnership with the community from a strength-based perspective and the commitment of local YAP teams have made a lasting impression on all the fellows we have hosted,” Matteson added.

For more information on YAP, visit yapinc.org.

Research for this (book, article, video, etc.) was supported in part by the Community Engagement Exchange Program, a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State, implemented by IREX. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not represent the Community Engagement Exchange Program, the U.S. Department of State, or IREX.

Photos and Story by Nateyah McLeod 

Harris County, Texas – This past June, Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. Harris County, Texas Evening Reporting Center (ERC) program participants Denzel and Jose earned their General Education Development (GED) certificates with their Advocate Nateyah McLeod, cheering them on.

“These two students exemplified outstanding leadership and showed a remarkable willingness to stay optimistic and engaged with everything our team brought to them,” said McLeod, who also serves as the YAP® Harris County Assistant Director. “Throughout their time in YAP, they faced significant personal and academic challenges yet never wavered in their determination.”

Now in its 50th year, YAP® is a national nonprofit is in 32 states and Washington, D.C. that works with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, and other local and regional governments to provide community-based services as an alternative to placing young people outside of their homes in residential care or corrections facilities.

YAP® Harris County works closely with the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, which refers youth and young adults to the program where they are offered vocational rehabilitation classes. The YAP® Evening Reporting Center is located inside of Houston’s Opportunity Center where behavioral health, vocational training/work readiness, community support and YAPWrap® or wraparound support, is offered to youth and their families connecting them to tools and resources setting them up for success. YAP® neighborhood-based Advocates and staff provide individualized, strength-based approaches that give students the opportunity to develop academic progress, personal growth, leadership, and career readiness.

“They maintained a strong level of attendance, participated fully in program activities, and consistently demonstrated commitment to their future goals,” McLeod said about Denzel and Jose. “Their perseverance and growth are a testament to the power of advocacy, mentorship, and hard work. We are excited to see them continue to excel in their education, careers, and in making a positive difference in their communities.”

YAP® Harris County engages in a variety of transformative experiences, including the Peaceful Alternatives to Tough Situations (PATTS) curriculum, which helps youth learn conflict resolution, communication, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, participants learned about essential tools for independence, responsibility, and preparation for adulthood.

In addition to an academic and vocational rehab curriculum, McLeod said students in the program had the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities that included attending college tours, learning how to open a bank account, painting in the park, and art therapy sessions.

“They also enjoyed fun, team-building outings at (miniature golf), bowling, and Topgolf, where they were able to bond with peers, build social skills, and celebrate their progress in a positive and engaging environment,” McLeod. “These experiences encouraged self-expression, financial literacy, exposure to higher education, and community connection; further supporting their journey toward independence and success.”

For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org.

In 1975, as an Edinboro University senior, William Wachob got an opportunity that would lay the foundation for his life’s work. He applied for, was offered, and accepted an internship with Jerry Miller, a pioneer in youth justice reform. Miller headed the Pennsylvania Office of Children and Youth, which after a court order ending the placement of children at the Camp Hill Adult prison, was charged with relocating more than 200 incarcerated youths.

“I would go to the facility, bring them out and take them where they had to go,” Wachob recalled. He would drive the formerly incarcerated young people to group homes, forestry camps, and to Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. (Youth Advocate Program or PYAP at the time), a downtown barbershop storefront-based nonprofit started by Tom Jeffers.

Wachob will share his memories of YAP®’s early years at the agency’s Nov. 8 50th Anniversary YAP® Making Change Happen Food Truck Brunch in Harrisburg, Pa. A YAP® board member since 2017, Wachob was one of the agency’s first employees.

YAP® is now a national nonprofit that partners with youth justice, child welfare, behavioral health, education, and public safety systems across the U.S. The agency is the nation’s premier community-based alternative to placing young people in trouble, in crisis, or who face other complex challenges in residential care or corrections facilities. YAP® also partners with cities to apply principles of its wraparound services model to support young people and adults of all ages to reduce neighborhood violence.

When Wachob completed his senior year at Edinboro, he joined Jeffers at YAP® as Director of Administration and Finance and helped expand services across Pennsylvania. Jeffers became a mentor to Wachob, inspiring him to go into public office. At age 25, Wachob was elected to the Pennsylvania State Legislature where he served three terms focusing on justice, welfare, and senior citizen issues. Today, he lives in California, where he directs the west coast office of The Campaign Group, Inc., a national media/political consulting firm with offices in Philadelphia and San Diego.

Learn more about the Harrisburg YAP® Making Change Happen Food Truck Brunch and the agency’s other 50th anniversary events at www.YAPInc.org.

Elise Person will host three of Youth Advocate Programs™, Inc. (YAP®)’s 50th Anniversary YAP® Making Change Happen events this November. She will host the Nov. 6 Awards Gala in Philadelphia and two events in Harrisburg, Pa., on Nov. 8, the YAP® Making Change Happen 5K Walk/Run and the national nonprofit’s Food Truck Brunch event later that morning.

Elise is a former news reporter whose career took an unexpected but meaningful turn into child advocacy. Originally from the Philadelphia suburbs, she began her journalism career in Columbia, Missouri before moving to Harrisburg, where she found her passion for amplifying the voices of children and families. Through her reporting, she worked closely with nonprofits and advocacy groups across Pennsylvania, shining a spotlight on child welfare, youth justice reform, and legislative change to better protect children.

YAP® is a national nonprofit that delivers community-based services as a safer, more effective and less costly alternative to placing young people in trouble or crisis or who face complex challenges in corrections or residential care facilities.

Elise said among the organizations she collaborated with, YAP® stood out as a favorite. She covered stories highlighting the nonprofit’s mission to keep children out of detention centers, provide alternatives to institutional placements, and partner with public safety systems to help reduce neighborhood violence. She credits YAP® as being instrumental in making her work possible.

Elise’s dedication to advocacy is also deeply personal. The oldest of five siblings, she lost her mother to cancer at just eight years old. Her mother, a speech pathologist with aspirations of attending law school, devoted her life to helping children—a passion Elise proudly carries forward.

Today, she is honored to continue her advocacy and supporting YAP®’s vision of building safer, stronger communities for young people and families.

Learn more about YAP® and the nonprofit’s 50th anniversary events at yapinc.org/50th.

Nathan Weil will share his insights at the 50^th Anniversary YAP® Making Change Happen Summit as a Justice Reform: Beyond Punishment: Rethinking Justice panelist. The Nov. 6 Summit and evening YAP® Making Change Happen Awards Gala are being held at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, 201 North 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA

Nathan is a Director of Criminal Justice Research at Arnold Ventures. His work brings together practitioners with causal researchers to build evidence that better equips public sector leaders with the tools to tackle trenchant problems and improve outcomes for those most impacted by violence and injustice.

Before joining Arnold Ventures, Nathan worked at the University of Chicago Crime Lab, where he contributed to projects touching on a wide range of topics in criminal justice from policing and community safety to reintegration and workforce development.

Nathan holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a bachelor’s in economics from Middlebury College. He grew up in Switzerland and has a lifelong love of hiking, biking, cheese, and croissants.

Gloucester County, N.J. – Budgeting, banking, renting an apartment, how to do laundry and grocery shop are some of the skills Gregory learned while in Youth Advocate Programs™, Inc. (YAP®) Gloucester County.

 “I met with my YAP® worker Sarah Gross on a weekly basis for life skills sessions,” Gregory said. “Sarah has also taught me how to advocate for myself, make friends in and out of school, and prepare for my driving test.”

YAP® is a national nonprofit in 32 states and Washington, D.C., providing services that reduce the nation’s overreliance on youth incarceration, residential care, group homes and other out-of-home placements. Celebrating its 50th year in 2025, YAP® partners with public systems to provide community-based wraparound and behavioral health services as an alternative to residential care and incarceration.

Gregory received services from YAP® Gloucester County Youth Justice staff who work with 8-17-year-olds who have been referred to the program through the courts, self-referrals, law enforcement or other entities. The program pairs youth with a YAP® Advocate, from or close to their neighborhood, who serves as a champion for them and their families and connects them to individualized economic, emotional or education services in addition to overall life skills. The Advocates and program participants spend up to three hours a week together.

Gregory graduated from high school in June and was accepted to Stockton University with hopes of becoming a gastroenterologist. He was recently awarded a laptop through the Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund Scholarship for Continuing Education. Eligible current and former YAP® program participants, along with their parents/guardians, can apply for the scholarship annually for $1,500 in tuition and fees assistance or a laptop computer. The Endowment Fund is supported mostly through YAP® employee payroll deductions.  

Gross, YAP® Gloucester County Life Skills Coordinator, said Gregory had to cope with obstacles that were no fault of his own and were beyond his control, adding that “one of his greatest strengths is that he never gives ups and asks for help when needed.” Earlier this year, Gregory accompanied Gross to YAP’s Board of Directors meetings in Atlantic City, N.J., where she was recognized for her work by YAP® leaders.

“During each session, Gregory asked thoughtful questions, provided insightful feedback, and practiced self-reflection,” said Gross who has worked for YAP® for 28 years. “From the first time I met Gregory, he had a clear vision that he wanted to pursue a career in medicine, specializing in gastrointestinal care. Not only is Gregory an excellent student and quick learner, but he is also kind, thoughtful and genuinely cares for others. He has a strong desire to help and support and lift up others as they pursue their own dreams.”

Gregory is thankful to receive a new laptop and is excited to begin his post-secondary education.

“I am extremely grateful to say that YAP® has always been there for me when I needed it, be it through tough times or just seeking guidance related to college, the future, or even just personal endeavors,” Gregory said.

Added YAP® Endowment Board President and Chief Impact Officer Patty Rosati, “We are all so very proud of you. Best of luck in your studies.”

More information on the Endowment Fund can be found here. For more information on YAP®, visit yapinc.org.

Youth Advocate Programs™ (YAP®) Michigan Program Director Shannon Collin said from a young age, she has felt a deep calling to help others.

“This passion has guided every step of my professional journey, beginning with my education at Central Michigan University, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in social work and a minor in psychology,” she said. “During my undergraduate studies, I completed an internship with the Maternal and Infant Support Services program at the Central Michigan District Health Department. This experience gave me the invaluable opportunity to work closely with expectant and new mothers, their infants, and families—an early confirmation of my desire to serve and support vulnerable populations.”

Collin will share her experiences as Program Director for YAP® Michigan as a panelist at the 50^th  Anniversary YAP® Making Change Happen Summit. YAP® is a national nonprofit that delivers community-based services as an alternative to incarcerating or placing young people in trouble or crisis or who face other complex challenges in residential or corrections facilities. In the past decade, communities have also partnered with the nonprofit to apply principles of its evidence-based model to their approaches to reduce neighborhood violence.

“In 2021, I joined the Michigan YAP® team and was excited to be part of a small but passionate group of six staff members. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of watching our program grow exponentially. Our team has grown to over twenty dedicated staff members. We’ve expanded from serving up to 20 participants under one grant across seven counties to supporting up to 61 participants across the entire Lower Peninsula and two-thirds of the Upper Peninsula through six different grants,” Collin said. “Being part of this growth has been incredibly rewarding, and I am proud to work alongside a team that is nonjudgmental, strength-based, and fully dedicated to supporting, advocating for, and encouraging every youth and family we serve.”

Collin’s first professional role following graduation was at the Isabella County Nonsecure Detention Home.

“This position taught me one of the most important lessons of my career: that every young person has a unique story and, with respect and the right support, has the capacity for growth and positive change,” she said. “I later transitioned to the Isabella County Day Treatment Program, where I continued to work with youth in a more treatment-focused setting, helping them navigate challenges while building trust and resilience.”

After three years working with youth, Collin joined Eight CAP, Inc., serving as Family Support Coordinator in Head Start, Community Services Specialist in Community Services, and Housing Resource Specialist Supervisor in the Housing Department.

“Throughout these roles, I gained invaluable insight into the realities of both generational and situational poverty and worked to empower individuals and families to overcome obstacles and improve their quality of life,” she said. “My passion for this work is fueled by the belief that with the right guidance and support, every individual has the ability to grow and thrive.”

Learn more about YAP®’s 50^th anniversary events at yapinc.org/50th.

Ogemaw County, Michigan — Now 15, Michael thinks about where he was two years ago and sees a totally different kid.

“Back then, I was a screw up, couldn’t do anything right, always getting in trouble,” he said, adding that he was angry and distrustful.

This summer, Michael enjoyed time with his parents and younger siblings. He also started a yard business with two customers, one of whom is an elderly widow, a cancer survivor who Michael works for free of charge.

Michael’s parents, Don and Sara, say as an adolescent, Michael was in and out of court and youth justice facilities. Michael said his behavior was triggered by abuse from a relative and later a close friend. With four young children in a rural Michigan community, Don and Sara’s struggles to help Michael put a strain on the entire family.

“We did everything,” Sara said. “We’ve been through three or four parenting classes, counseling for kids dealing with trauma; community mental health services; and we studied everything we could.”

Sara recalls at least one probation officer and a few family members suggesting it might be best to send Michael away, perhaps to a group home.

“Donny and I — that wasn’t our choice; we fought to keep him home; there were many nights that we cried,” she said. “He [Michael] was hurting; his heart was breaking.”

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services connected the family to Youth Advocate Programs ™, Inc. (YAP®). Celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2025, the national nonprofit partners with county and state youth justice, child welfare and other systems to deliver community-based services as an alternative to youth incarceration and residential care.

“Michael’s YAP® Advocate was a really big help,” said Don. “She made a real difference.”

Now in 32 states and Washington, D.C., YAP® hires mostly neighborhood-based Advocates who are trained to empower program participants to see and nurture their strengths.

“I learned that I’m good at drawing and that I’m a good communicator,” Michael said, adding that his Advocate would listen to him during trips to the park where she would give him colored pencils and markers and encourage him to draw.

“Another gift is my honesty,” Michael said, recalling a time when a juvenile court judge shared that he appreciated that Michael always told the truth.

During his year as a YAP® participant, Michael said he began to look at himself differently and noticed that others were doing the same.

“I started hearing good news from the YAP® workers and I realized I was not a screw up; I wasn’t a failure; I just needed to try,” he said.

As part of his probation, Michael worked at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which serves people struggling with  homelessness, poverty and addiction.

“It gave me a warm feeling to help someone in need. It makes me feel good,” he said.

YAP®’s strength-based approach is guided by principles of its decades-old, evidence-based YAPWrap® youth and family services model. The nonprofit’s Advocates, behavioral health professionals and/or other staff connect program participants as well as their parents, guardians and other loved ones with individualized economic, educational and/or emotional tools to firm their family foundation.

“Different staff worked with the family over the year,” said YAP® Program Director Shannon Collin, who also visited with and participated in activities with the family.

With help from the YAP® team, things began to settle down at home where Michael said his younger siblings had become accustomed to his outbursts and unpredictable behavior.

“They don’t look at me as a threat anymore,” he said. “My six-year-old brother, he wants to do everything with me. He always sticks by my side. He looks up to me.”

Michael said he has also improved academically, adding that when he was introduced to YAP®, he was enrolled in an alternative school.

“After discharge Michael was able to enroll in a traditional school and passed ninth grade this past year,” Collin said.

Don and Sara said Michael also took a community college welding course and that he’s making plans for his future.

“He has a girlfriend now and he’s come up to being a very respectful young man,” Sara said,

“My dream is to become a mobile diesel mechanic,” Michael added.

Michael and his parents will serve as panelists for the nonprofit’s 50^th Anniversary YAP® Making Change Happen Summit on Nov. 6, 2025,in Philadelphia, Pa.

Learn more and register for the nonprofit’s 50th anniversary events at https://www.yapinc.org/50th.

Rosalind Maldonado is beyond proud of her 22-year-old son Maximus.  Delivered prematurely in an emergency C-section alongside his stillborn twin, Maximus weighed just one pound at birth.

“He was not fully formed; no nose, no mouth,” Maldonado said. “Maximus was in the NICU for four months.”

He weighed under five pounds when he finally came home. As a young child, Maximus was diagnosed with autism and Maldonado worked closely with his teachers to create and implement an individualized service plan for him. She said he has come a long way. 

“He’s doing great now; he was on the Dean’s list last year at Reading Community College and he already has clear plans for his future,” Maldonado said.

Among the opportunities that Maximus credits for his bright future is one offered through Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®), Inc. Celebrating its 50^th year, YAP® is a national nonprofit that delivers community-based services that give communities alternatives to placing young people in trouble or crisis or who face other complex challenges in corrections or residential care facilities. The young people YAP® serves come to the nonprofit through youth justice, child welfare, developmental disabilities, education, and other systems.

Maximus will be among a group of former YAP® participants who share their program experiences as panelists at the 50^th Anniversary YAP® Making Change Happen Summit in Philadelphia on Nov. 6.

YAP empowers program participants by helping them see their strengths and connecting them and their families with individualized tools to meet their economic, educational, and emotional goals.

As part of a partnership with the nonprofit’s Developmental Disabilities program with Pennsylvania’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), My Work initiative, Maximus landed a summer job in 2023 with Olivet Boys & Girls Clubs. He was paired with YAP® Employment Specialist Lenny Stinson who continued to work with Maximus when the summer job ended.

“Lenny helped me build my confidence,” Maximus said.

Lenny guided Maximus as he worked to become the first Berks County Youth Ambassador through February 2025. This opportunity led to an invitation for Maximus to take part in the Berk County Transition Coordinating Council, a monthly gathering with administrators and teachers and OVR representatives creating special committees to work on topics and events. Maximus also spoke at Wyomissing High, Muhlenberg High and Reading High, sharing his experiences and goals with special education students.  He also spoke at Kids Peace, Olivet Boys and Girls, and City Light Ministry. In October of 2024, Maximus and Lenny participated in a Pa. Youth Leadership Network event at State College.

Now in its fourth year, the nonprofit’s OVR program has placed more than 500 YAP® participants with disabilities or who face other employment barriers in paid work experiences across Pennsylvania. 

Learn more about YAP® and the nonprofit’s 50^th Anniversary events at yapinc.org/50th.

Ellana Watson is the youngest person appointed to serve on Youth Advocate Programs (YAP®) Inc.’s Board of Directors. Now a student with plans to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner, she says she could have never imagined her life today when she was 16 and first learned about YAP®.

“I could not have imagined the opportunities that would follow. YAP® introduced me to a world I might never have known existed,” she said.

YAP® is a national nonprofit celebrating five decades partnering with public systems to deliver community-based individual and family Advocate and behavioral health services as an alternative to placing young people in trouble or crisis or who face other complex challenges in residential care or corrections facilities.

In 2011, after a fight in school, Watson, who was already in Philadelphia’s child welfare system, also entered the city’s youth justice system. As an alternative to youth incarceration, she received services from YAP®.

“What started as a mandatory requirement from a judge has grown into the honor of serving as a board member. That journey—from being introduced to the program to now helping lead it—represents how deeply it has transformed me into a stronger, more confident, and more purpose-driven individual,” she added.

Watson will serve as a panelist at the national nonprofit’s 50th anniversary YAP® Making Change Happen Summit in Philadelphia on Nov. 6. She will also be a featured speaker at the Nov. 8 YAP^® Making Change Happen 5k, Walk and Food Truck Brunch at the nonprofit’s national headquarters in Harrisburg, PA.

After completing services with YAP®, Watson stayed in contact with the organization and volunteered at events. This led to her becoming involved in the nonprofit’s international work. She represented YAP® in Brazil and Argentina as a street soccer player and served as a youth ambassador and mentor at international street tournaments. Watson later hosted a Swedish delegation visiting the YAP® program in Philadelphia and assisted an Argentinian team in presenting a street soccer workshop as part of the nonprofit’s 40th anniversary celebration.

“I had the privilege of traveling to various countries, meeting people from diverse nationalities, and engaging with different cultures. These experiences broadened my horizons and gave me a deeper understanding of the power of representation,” Watson said. “Being able to stand proudly in front of international audiences and share my perspective showed me that my story and my voice matter. I learned that leadership is not about where you come from, but about the courage to represent yourself and your community on any stage.”

Watson also received financial support to pursue her education through a YAP® Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund Scholarship for Continuing Education, which enabled her to complete her studies at Philadelphia Community College and go on to work as a mental health technician at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. She’s now enrolled in Thomas Jefferson University’s dual BS in Behavioral Health Services and MS in Community Trauma degree program. A few weeks ago, Watson received a second YAP® Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund Scholarship, as current and former program participants may apply for the $1,500 tuition support or laptop computer annually.

“What I value most is how YAP® instilled in me a commitment to serve others. Advocacy is not simply about achieving personal success; it is about creating opportunities for others to be heard and represented,” Watson said. “The people I’ve met have taught me the importance of lifting others up, amplifying voices that often go unheard, and being part of a collective effort to create positive change.”

In her free time, plays offensive guard for the Philadelphia Phantomz, part of the Women’s National Football Conference, a semi-pro full contact tackle league. She wants young girls to know that football is not just for boys and that girls can play as well, even at pro level.

“I credit much of who I am today—driven, passionate, and dedicated to service—to the foundation this program provided. It gave me the tools to lead, the confidence to take on challenges, and the courage to seek opportunities that once felt out of reach,” Watson said. “It inspired me to continue making an impact in my community and beyond. YAP®did more than provide opportunities—it transformed me. It opened doors, expanded my worldview, and instilled in me the belief that my voice matters.”